I
had just reached the top when looking round I saw the canoe turn
bottom up like a flash, and both men disappeared.
I stood unable to move. Almost immediately Joe came up. He had
caught the tracking line and held to it. Then I saw Job appear.
He had not been able to hold to the canoe. The current had swept
him off, and was now carrying him down the river. My heart
sickened at the sight, and still I could not move. Then an eddy
caught him, and he went down out of sight again. Again he
appeared, and this time closer to us, for the eddy had somehow
thrown him in shore where the water was not so deep. He was on his
back now and swimming a little, but could neither get up nor turn
over. I wondered why the men stood motionless watching him. Then
it dawned on me that George was holding the canoe, and I found my
voice to shout: "Run, Joe." Joe's own experience had for the
moment dazed him, but now he suddenly came to life. Springing
forward, he waded out and caught Job's hand before he was carried
into deep water again. As he felt himself safe in Joe's strong
grasp, Job asked: "Where is Mrs. Hubbard? Is she all right?"
At first he did not seem able to get up, but when George, on
reaching the canoe, turned it right side up, and to the utter
astonishment of every one, it appeared that nearly the whole load
was still in it--the sight revived Job.
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